India’s gross Goods and Services Tax (GST) collections rose 8.1 per cent year-on-year to ₹1.83 lakh crore in February 2026, official data released on Sunday showed, signalling sustained consumption momentum despite rate adjustments.
With this, total gross GST revenue for the financial year 2025–26 up to 28 February stood at ₹20.27 lakh crore, marking an 8.3 per cent increase over the corresponding period last year.
After refunds of ₹22,595 crore, up 10.2 per cent year-on-year, net GST revenue for February was ₹1.61 lakh crore.
Domestic revenue contributed ₹1.36 lakh crore, reflecting a 5.3 per cent rise, while revenue from imports stood at ₹47,837 crore, registering a sharper 17.2 per cent increase.
However, net cess revenue declined sharply to ₹5,063 crore from ₹13,481 crore in February last year.
Consumption uptick reflected
MS Mani, Partner, Deloitte India, said the latest data indicates strengthening consumption trends.
“The consumption increase that has led to an 8% plus increase in the monthly and annual collections is also supported by the strong GDP data and other macroeconomic indicators published recently,” Mani said.
He noted that although collections were inching towards ₹2 trillion per month, rate reductions had pulled the numbers slightly lower.
“The latest GST collection figures reflect the fact that there has been a consumption uptick that has more than compensated for the rate reductions leading to an 8% increase in the monthly collections and in terms of absolute numbers, the collections which were inching towards Rs 2 trillion per month, the rate reductions have pulled it back and it will take some more time for the Rs 2 trillion mark to emerge,” Mani said.
State-wise trends mixed
State-wise post-settlement GST revenues presented a mixed picture. Industrialised states registered steady gains, while some smaller and mineral-dependent states saw contractions.
Maharashtra made the largest pre-settlement contribution at ₹10,286 crore, followed by Karnataka and Gujarat.
States that recorded positive GST revenue growth in post-settlement State GST (SGST) included Himachal Pradesh, Chandigarh, Uttarakhand, Haryana, Delhi, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh, among others.
Meanwhile, West Bengal, Jharkhand, Odisha, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Tripura and Jammu and Kashmir reported negative growth in post-settlement SGST collections.
Highlighting concerns in pre-settlement figures, Mani said: “The negative growth reported by major states such as Tamil Nadu ( -6%) , MP (-8%) , Rajasthan (-1%) , and the single digit growth below the national average of 8% reported by WB (1%) Haryana(2%) , UP(5%) , Maharashtra (6%) would be a matter of concern for the states and the policy makers.”
The February numbers reinforce a broader macroeconomic trend of resilient domestic demand, supported by improving GDP growth and steady import activity. Analysts say sustained compliance measures and digital tracking under the GST regime have also contributed to stabilising collections.
However, the divergence across states suggests uneven economic momentum, with some regions lagging the national average.
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